the Better Business Bureau and Western Union to help consumers reduce their chances of becoming a victim of a scam. Visitors can sign up to receive weekly emails with details on the latest scams reported to Better Business Bureaus across North America.

Con artists hack into email or social media accounts and target the victim’s friends and family with frantic requests for money. They impersonate the traveler and claim to have an injury, a lost or stolen wallet, or even say they were arrested. Scammers use the information in these accounts to supply enough personal detail to make their requests appear legitimate.

“Emergency scams play off peoples’ emotions and strong desire to help friends and family in need,” said Shelley Berhnardt, director of Consumer Protection at Western Union. “Verify the emergency and resist the urge to